​Dieti​tians and nutritionists have singled out eating fast food as a fast track to diabetes and diseases. The Department of Endocrinology at Singapore General Hospital explains why and shares 4 good eating habits.​

​is highly processed with high amounts of sodium, saturated fats and trans fat.

The next time you crave for a double cheese hamburger, think of the whopping calories, saturated fats, and high amount of sodium that go into this fast food meal. Dietitians and nutritionists have long singled out eating fast food as a fast track to obesity and disease.

According to the Ministry of Health’s National Health Survey, Singaporeans have grown fatter over the past seven years, with the obesity rate rising from 6.9 per cent in 2004 to 10.8 per cent in 2010.

More people are also developing type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs when the body becomes insulin-resistant and is closely linked to obesity.

Poor eating habits linked to obesity

Experts cite poor eating habits such as eating fast food, late night suppers, rushing through meals and eating while watching television – as reasons for poor digestion, overeating and rising obesity.

The convenience of fast food and hawker food also makes it harder to break poor eating habits. With obesity comes a host of health problems: joint pain, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Why fast food is bad for health

Most fast food rank high on the glycaemic index (GI).

The body digests high-GI foods quickly, converting it into glucose that’s released into the bloodstream. Normally, insulin transforms this glucose into usable energy. However, if you are insulin-resistant, glucose remains in your bloodstream for too long, damaging your organs.

Most fast food is highly processed with high amounts of sodium, saturated fat and trans fat.

One Big Mac meal with medium fries and medium coke will chalk up 70 per cent of your daily maximum sodium intake, and up to 60 per cent of your daily maximum saturated fat (20g for women, 30g for men).

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